World War I: The Great War

Vocabulary flashcards covering the causes, major battles, US entry, Russian exit, and the Treaty of Versailles from the Great War lecture notes.

Militarism

One of the four major causes of the Great War (M.A.I.N.) involving the buildup of armed forces.

Alliances

One of the four major causes of the Great War (M.A.I.N.) involving systems like the Triple Alliance and Triple Entente.

Imperialism

One of the four major causes of the Great War (M.A.I.N.) involving competition for colonies and territory.

Nationalism

One of the four major causes of the Great War (M.A.I.N.) involving intense devotion and loyalty to one's nation.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Whose assassination was a major event that served as a catalyst for the Great War.

Schlieffen Plan

German strategy that initially overran Belgium and swept into France but was halted before achieving a quick victory in the West.

The Battle of the Marne (September $5$-$12$ $1914$)

The battle where the Schlieffen Plan was halted, the Germans were stopped, and the war settled into a stalemate.

The Battle of Verdun (July, $1916$)

The peak of Trench Warfare where Germans launched a massive attack resulting in a million casualties, including $300,000$-$600,000$ killed.

The Battle of the Somme (July-November $1916$)

The battle where Britain lost $20,000$ men on the first day and total casualties reached $1,000,000$, with Britain gaining $5$ miles.

Eastern Front

A battleground along the German-Russian border that was more mobile with fewer stalemates and trenches compared to the Western Front.

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

The German policy to sink any ship around Great Britain, which included the use of U-Boats.

Lusitania

A British cruise ship sunk by Germany in $1915$, resulting in the deaths of $1,198$ people, including $128$ US citizens.

Zimmerman Telegram

A document identified in the notes as one of the factors leading to the USA entering the war on April $6$, $1917$.

Czar Nicholas II

The Russian leader who abdicated on March $15$, $1918$, following civil unrest and discontent.

Brest-Litovsk Treaty

The treaty that required Russia to exit the war and give up land including Finland, Poland, Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

2nd Battle of the Marne (July $1918$)

An Allied victory where the arrival of $2$ Million Americans helped stop the German push toward the Marne River.

November $11$, $1918$

The date WWI ended after an armistice was signed in a French General’s private train car.

Kaiser Wilhelm II

The leader of Germany who resigned on November $9$, $11$, $1918$.

Big Four

The nations that controlled the Paris Peace Conference: Britain, France, Italy, and the USA.

14 Points

US President Woodrow Wilson’s plan for peace, which included proposals like freedom of the seas and the League of Nations.

League of Nations

Woodrow Wilson's $14$th point, intended to be an international organization to maintain peace.

Article $231$

The 'War Guilt' clause of the Treaty of Versailles that put the blame for the war on Germany.

Mandate

A nation officially administered as a territory on behalf of the League of Nations, applied to territories in Africa, the Middle East, and the Pacific.